Suspected Nazi guard’s death a blow to prosecutors

FILE - This undated file image shows the main gate of the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz I, Poland, which was liberated by the Russians in January 1945. Writing over the gate reads: "Arbeit macht frei" (Work makes free - or work liberates). The lawyer for Nazi war crimes suspect Johann "Hans" Breyer says the 89-year-old Philadelphia man died Tuesday, July 22, 2014 while awaiting extradition to Germany. German prosecutors had hoped to try Breyer on charges of aiding in the murder of more than 200,000 Jews at the Auschwitz death camp. (AP Photo/File)

By Associated Press July 24, 2014 4 min read

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – German efforts to prosecute aging war criminals suffered a setback this week with the death of a retired Philadelphia toolmaker who had long been in the crosshairs of Nazi hunters.

Bavarian prosecutors had hoped to extradite 89-year-old Johann “Hans” Breyer over his alleged service as a Waffen SS guard at Auschwitz in 1944.

However, Breyer died at a Philadelphia hospital Tuesday, hours before a U.S. judge approved the extradition request. Breyer had spent a month in jail since his arrest on charges of accessory to murder in the deaths of 216,000 Jews.

“It is very unfortunate that Breyer died but this in no way shape or form should discourage the prosecution of Nazi perpetrators who can still be brought to justice,” said Efraim Zuroff, the head Nazi hunter at the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem.

Breyer’s death was disclosed Wednesday just as U.S. Magistrate Timothy Rice approved the extradition request, which would still have needed final U.S. government review.